Who Optimizes SG&A Costs Better? QUALCOMM Incorporated or Pure Storage, Inc.

Optimizing SG&A: A Tale of Two Tech Giants

In the competitive world of technology, managing Selling, General, and Administrative (SG&A) expenses is crucial for profitability. Over the past decade, from 2014 to 2024, QUALCOMM Incorporated and Pure Storage, Inc. have showcased contrasting strategies in optimizing these costs.

QUALCOMM, a leader in wireless technology, consistently maintained higher SG&A expenses, peaking at approximately $2.99 billion in 2018. This reflects their expansive global operations and significant investment in marketing and administration. In contrast, Pure Storage, a rising star in data storage solutions, demonstrated a more aggressive growth in SG&A, increasing from $60 million in 2014 to nearly $1.2 billion by 2024. This 19-fold increase highlights their rapid expansion and market penetration efforts.

While QUALCOMM's expenses remained relatively stable, Pure Storage's strategic investments in SG&A underscore their commitment to scaling operations and capturing market share. This comparison offers valuable insights into how tech companies balance growth with operational efficiency.